Seasonal Affective Disorder

The blahs, the blues, the doldrums. To some, it's not that easy to snap out of a winter funk.

If you notice periods of depression that seem to accompany seasonal changes during the year, you may suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This condition is characterized by recurrent episodes of depression – usually in late fall and winter – alternating with periods of normal or high mood the rest of the year. (National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI)

Most people with SAD are women whose illness typically begins in their twenties.